Towel-rack



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

J. W. LYON. TOWEL RACK. No. 605,565. Patented June 14, 1-898.

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' ATTORNEY (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. LYON.

TOWELRAQK. No. 605,565. PaAzantgl June 14, 1898.

W/TNESSES 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES Wf LYON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TOWEL-RAG K.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 605,565, dated June 14, 1898. Y

Application filed June 8, 1897. serial No. 639,840. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern..-

Be it known that I, JAMES W. LYON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, Kings county, in the State of New York, have invented'a certain new and useful 1m provement in Towel-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

The subject of myinventionis an improved towel-rack of simple and durable construction, capable of ready'and convenient application in position, and of considerable efiiciency and service when in use. i

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what 1 consider the best means of carrying out the'invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of a kitchenboiler with my improved towel-rack applied. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one of the eyes in the strap and the vertical pin and hook-baser Fig. 4 shows the same with the clipapplied and a portion of an arm. The dotted lines show the arm turned up into the elevated position. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a portion in the simplest form. The remaining figures show some of the parts detached. Fig. 5 is an edge view showing certain parts as adjusted when out of user; Fig. 6 is a face View of a part.- Fig. 7 is a face view of another part, and Fig. 8 showsthe tightening hook and nut.

Referring to the drawings and the letters of reference thereon, Gis an ordinary rangeboiler, and I the wall of the apartment.

I provide a thin metal strap bent by pliers or other means at properly-spaced intervals to form a plurality of eyes A, which when the strap is extended around the boiler are: presented to receive pins to carry the supporting-bars for towels.'- The strap is in two sections A and B, with adjustable locking means, which make the length easily adapted for a wide range of sizesof boilers. One section A is sharply bent nearone end, forming an angular part or ear A, which is perforated to receive a screw-threaded hook to efiect the final tightening,as will be presentlydescribed. A considerable length of the opposite end of the section A is flat and is provided with a series of oblong holes a,with the longer dimensions extending lengthwise of the strap. The

section B is flat throughout and is formed at one end with a T-shaped head B, adapted to pass easily through one of the openings at in the section A when it is properly presented thereto. After. the T-headhas been entered in one of the holes a the section B ispartially turned to eifect the locking and is swung around to form apractically continuouslength with the section A. Thus engaged one end. of each section lies under the body of the other section and is concealed and protected between the body of the strap and the boiler.

A considerable length of the section B is punched'with holes-b.

D D is a stout wire hook having its shank D screw-threaded, adapted to extend through the aperture in the ear A and receive a nut E,-which may be a thumb-nut,as shown. The hook D being engaged in a proper hole I), the strap may be tightened, so as to be firmly held. The holes I) may be of the same size as the holes a and similarly arranged. Their function is simply to receive the wire hook, which may be shifted from oneinto another, instead of adjusting the junctions'of the sections, or in addition thereto, so as to give the proper length to the united strap. The hooked end D is wedge-formed, so as to lie nicely between the strap B and the boiler.

In applying the invention to use the flat strap B is passed in either direction through the narrow space or spaces between the boiler and the wall. Boilers are frequently set so close to the wall that there is not sufficient space to pass an ear through. After the two sections of the strap are properly engaged the j unction,which is also flat, and even if irregularly bent :will only present a little more than 0 twice the thickness of the thin strap, maybe slipped around in either direction until the proper'adjustment is attained. The hookbolt D D may be inserted through the ear A and be loosely engaged by applying the nut 5 E before the operation of attaching is commenced. I Then the hook portion of the bolt being engaged in one of the holes I) the'nut is tightened.

M M are sufficiently stout pins setkupright mo in the eyes A and extending upward therefrom and adapted to serve as pivots for the junctions of the towel-supporting arms. Each pin carries a clip P,between the leaves of which is received the flattened end of a bar \V,which is allowed to turn up and down on a looselyfitting horizontal rivet or pivot Q, as shown in Fig. l.

The flattened end of each bar is made by embracing it in a metallic thimble Y, having a considerably extended end Y, which is flattened and extended downward between the leaves of the clip and provided with a heel Y \Vhen the arm is turned into the upright position,the heel is idle; butwhen the arm is turned down into the horizontal position the heel braces against the eye A and strongly supports the arm and its load.

In what I esteem the preferable form the lower end of each pin M is bent outward and slightly upward and formed with a slight rounded head, all as indicated by M. The bent pin being clamped with cffieient force within the eye to maintain its position this hook may serve to support any domestic article as required.

Each arm \V can swing horizontally by the turning of the clip P on the upright pin M, and it can be raised into a perpendicular position by turning on the pivot Q.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. The sections A and B may differin length, A being the longer; but having them of uniform length facilitates packing for storage or shipment.

In applying the straps the flat portion of the section A instead of the fiat strap B may be inserted through the thin space between the boiler and the wall, if preferred. There may be boilers so small that the strap A will serve alone, in which case the hook D will be engaged in one of the holes a.

Parts of the invention may be used without the whole. The heel Y may be varied and In this form the angle Y ortin arms \V carried b i said oh s substantially as herein specified.

2. In a towel-rack, the combination with the flexible strap A, presenting the vertical eyes A of strap-connecting means, and upright pins M bearing in the strap-eyes, a clip embracing each of the pins M, and towel-supporting arms \V, each pivoted to swing vertically in a clip, each arm having a heel or stop Y to limit its downward movement, substantially as herein specified.

3. In a towel-rack, the flexible strap A, carrying the upright pins M, strap-connecting means, a clip P, for each pin and including a fiat projection, in combination with a bar \V having the thimble Y with flattened portion Y pivoted on said projection to swing vertically, substantially as herein specified.

4. In a towelrack, the flexible strap A carrying the upright pins M, strap-connecting means, a clip P, for each pin and including a fiat projection, in combination with a bar \V, having the thimble Y with flattened portion pivoted on such projection, and having an integral heel or contacting part for limitin g its downward movement, substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES XV. LYON.

'Witnesses:

WILLIAM PAXTON, M. F. BOYLE. 

